President Muhammadu Buhari, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, a former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, urged all trade associations and workers' unions in tertiary institutions yesterday to stop using strikes as a negotiating tactic.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), in particular, should use the negotiating table to present their demands, according to the President and other distinguished Nigerians.
The trio spoke yesterday at the University of Ibadan's (UI), Oyo State, 74th Foundation Day/convocation ceremonies.
President Buhari, a visitor to the university, was represented by Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The President called the circumstance in which all of the university trade unions declared protracted trade disputes in the previous year "disheartening."
"I salute the university for playing a leading role and producing the critically important academic employees for higher institutions both inside and beyond Nigeria," he said.
"As everyone knows, the university system holds the key to any country's destiny. As a result, our universities need to be stable and disciplined.
It is disappointing that almost all of the university trade unions, including ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and NAT, declared protracted trade disputes in the previous year, which had negative effects on our economy, caused unneeded disruptions to our universities' academic schedules, and left our youths feeling frustrated and uneasy.
"I must be very clear that the trade unions, notably ASUU, must avoid using strike action as a means of advancing their demands. Strikes only exacerbate the already dire situation in our education sector and damage the standing of our public universities both domestically and abroad.
"I therefore want to make an appeal to our unions to always exercise restraint and pursue their objectives through constant negotiation and mutual respect.
"Let me reassure everyone involved in the education sector that the federal government is still dedicated to the welfare of all employees and students. As long as government resources allow, we will continue to address the numerous competing issues in our various institutions.
